Measles Outbreak Hits Ave Maria University in Florida

Why It Matters

The outbreak highlights how declining vaccine coverage can disrupt campus operations and raise public‑health costs, forcing higher‑education leaders to reassess immunization policies.

Key Takeaways

• 40+ measles cases at Ave Maria University.
• Exemptions driving lower campus vaccination rates.
• Multiple U.S. campuses reporting exposure this year.
• Experts warn outbreaks inevitable without stricter policies.
• Potential academic disruptions and health costs rising.

Pulse Analysis

Measles, once thought relegated to early childhood, is re‑emerging on college campuses as vaccine exemptions climb. While the MMR vaccine has been available since the 1960s, recent surveys suggest a growing number of students claim religious or personal reasons to opt out, eroding herd immunity in densely populated dorms and lecture halls. This shift creates fertile ground for the virus, which can spread rapidly in environments where close contact is the norm.

The immediate fallout at Ave Maria University illustrates the operational challenges institutions face. Quarantine orders, contact‑tracing efforts, and the suspension of classes strain administrative resources and can delay academic progress. Health‑center staffing surges, and universities may incur significant expenses for testing, isolation facilities, and communication campaigns. Moreover, the reputational risk of a visible outbreak can affect enrollment decisions, especially for prospective students and parents wary of campus safety.

Policymakers and university leaders are now weighing stricter immunization mandates against concerns over personal liberty. Some schools are tightening exemption criteria, requiring additional documentation or counseling before granting waivers. Public‑health agencies recommend robust education campaigns that emphasize community protection and the low risk of adverse vaccine reactions. By reinforcing vaccination compliance, colleges can safeguard both student health and institutional stability, turning a reactive response into a proactive public‑health strategy.

Measles Outbreak Hits Ave Maria University in Florida

By Teddy Rosenbluth · Feb. 13, 2026

Credit…Zack Wittman for The New York Times

More than 40 measles cases have been reported at Ave Maria University in southwest Florida, the largest outbreak on a college campus in recent history.

The outbreak at the private Catholic college has raised concerns among university leaders and public‑health experts that measles, which has largely been considered a childhood illness, may present a growing threat to college students who aren’t vaccinated.

Measles has already disrupted several campuses across the country this year.

In South Carolina, more than 80 students at Clemson University and at Anderson University were quarantined in January after each institution reported a case on campus. Officials at the University of Wisconsin‑Madison notified roughly 4,000 people this month that they had been exposed to the virus. Also this month, officials at the University of Florida informed students that two classes at its Gainesville campus had been exposed.

Most colleges require students to provide proof of vaccination against measles, but many allow students to claim religious or personal exemptions. There is no national data on vaccination rates among college students, but anecdotally, universities have noticed an uptick in personal exemptions in recent years, said Dr. Sarah Van Orman, past president of the American College Health Association and chief campus health officer at the University of Southern California.

Dr. Van Orman said that many colleges are now preparing for the possibility of measles outbreaks on their campuses, something that would have been considered very unlikely just a few years ago.

“For most of us, it’s not if we’ll get a case, it’s when,” Dr. Van Orman said.

Before the measles vaccine was introduced in the 1960s, getting sick in adulthood was rare. Nearly all children got measles before they turned 15. Roughly 450 people died from the infection every year, and the rest built up natural immunity well before adulthood.